St. Paul's girls and boys trail in 5A tennis tournament, McGill, Fairhope back in 6A

BILL STARLING/Staff PhotographerMurphy High School's Amanda Zayek returns a ball during her match against Vestavia's Caroline Faught on Mondayat the Copeland-Cox Tennis Center in Mobile. The Alabama High School Athletic Association's Class 5A and 6A Girls and Boys Tennis Tounaments started Monday.

St. Paul's girls' tennis team is in the fight of its life as it trails Muscle Shoals by six points after Monday's 5A state tennis championships at the Copeland-Cox Tennis Center.

Muscle Shoals and St. Paul's both swept their doubles matches, but Muscle Shoals won five out of six singles matches while the Saints managed to win only four out of six, setting up today's battle in the semifinals and finals. Muscle Shoals leads with 42 points, with St. Paul's and Walker tied for second with 36.

"We were just trying to start off with a good day and get ready for tomorrow," said St. Paul's Jane Stephens, who had a big 6-0, 6-0 win in No. 3 singles over Sylacauga's Cari Cline. "Today, my forehand was working pretty well, and I didn't miss too many serves, which helped a lot."

St. Paul's boys are in third place with 31 points, behind leader Walker (38) and Briarwood Christian (36). Spanish Fort, which got a big victory from defending state singles and doubles champion Mitchell Vegas, is fifth with 19 points.

Windy conditions played havoc with players.

"Every time you threw the ball up to serve, it would blow it back," said Vegas, who had a first-round bye in singles and who along with Taylor Miller, scored doubles wins over Charles Henderson and St. Paul's. "The wind was trouble, but my forehand was definitely on and I was able to use my backhand slice."

McGill-Toolen was fourth in 6A boys with 32 points and Fairhope fifth with 25. Mountain Brook leads with 47 points, while Vestavia Hills and Auburn are second and third with 39 and 34 points, respectively.

McGill-Toolen got off to a good start, winning five out of six first-round singles matches, and coach Jason Abraham was pleased with his senior-laden squad.

"The 6A teams are really strong," he said. "It's really an acheivement to do as well as we've had so far."

Vestavia Hills leads the 6A girls competition with 44 points, followed by Huntsville with 33. Fairhope and Mountain Brook are tied for third with 31 points.